The Bag and the Plan

In 19 hours, I will be on a plane headed to Dublin, Ireland for the first stop in my three-and-a-half week tour of Europe with Jessica!

I feel like I owe you a proper explanation of what the heck I'm exactly doing in Europe before studying in France, since my last post was less than helpful.

Jessica and I are doing what the French call a grand-tour - in other words, we are making a giant circle (or triangle, to be more exact) throughout Europe. In the image below, the red arrows mark the general path that we will be following.

Dublin to London to Brussels to Frankfurt to Munich to Venice to Florence to Milan to Nice to Marseille to Montpellier to Barçelona to Madrid to Paris (whew!)

So you may ask: Dani, how did you pack for this grand adventure when you're studying abroad right after? How are you possibly going to take all your study abroad stuff (clothes, computer, Alfred the Frog, what have you) on an almost-month long European trek?? 

The answer: I'M NOT! *gasp!*

I know it may be shocking, but I will only be taking a carry-on with me to Europe. But... but how!?

I have managed to fit all of my clothes, including two pairs of shoes, two pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, two skirts, six shirts, a hat, a sweater, seven pairs of socks, twelve panties, a bathing suit, a work-out outfit, three bras, a dress, and a winter coat, along with my computer, my REI day-pack, and all the school stuff I need, in my magical, handy-dandy Rick Steves carry-on travel backpack.

The general contents of my backpack, minus toiletries!

And..... voilà!

I may end up looking like a giant turtle, but at least it all fits!

Although it looks massive in this picture, my bag is, indeed, carry-on sized. Abreana, my sweet roommate back at DU, did not believe this was possible. To you, my lady, I say: HA! AH HA HA HA!!!! (That's a maniacal laugh if you couldn't tell). 

I still can't believe that I leave the country tomorrow for almost an entire year. My mind simply doesn't comprehend the weirdness of this yet!! But just like Bilbo Baggins says at the end of the Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King,

"I think I'm quite ready for another adventure." 

Imagine me as this little white-haired guy, just escorted by Jessica instead of Frodo and boarding a plane with lame humans instead of awesome elves on a magical ship. I can totally see the resemblance.